Couch bed



Feb. 2, 1937.

J. MARTIN COUCH BED Filed March 10, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR J SEPH Mfl/QT/A ATTORNEY /2 L64 k/Z Feb. 2, 1937. MART|N 2,069,258

COUCH BED Filed March 10, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 70 66 54 INVENTOR d JOSEPH MART/A ATTORNEY 'Paten'tecl Feb. 2, 1937 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE COUCH BED Application March 10, 1934, Serial No. 714,904

11 Claims.

This invention relates to couch beds in general.

Among the objects of the present invention, it

is aimed to provide an improved couch bed in 5 which the main bed section may be equipped with a box spring and a separate mattress and an extension bed section with a flat spring and a separate mattress and in which the mattress for the extension bed section may be permanently secured to such extension bed section.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved bed section adapted for use as the extension bed. section of a couch bed having a collapsible upper frame in which 15 the lifting arm for the lifting mechanism of the upper frame is provided with a crossbar resting on the upper face of the entension bed section in collapsed position both freely visible to the attendant at all times and also located at a level 20 above the floor within easy reach of the attendant.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved bed section adapted for use as the extension bed section of a couch 25 bed having a fixed lower frame, a liftable upper frame and an improved simplified arrangement of links. connecting the upper frame to the lower frame and operable by a lifting arm which is pivotally connected at one end of the upper frame and is therefore visible to the attendant as well as within easy reach of such attendant.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved couch bed in which the main bed section may be equipped with a box spring and a separate mattress and the extension bed section equipped with a flat spring and a separate mattress, the main bed section being preferably immovable and the extension bed section supported on rollers and movable relative to the main bed section not only into double bed formation but also into entirely separate twin bed formation.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved bed section adapted 45 for use as the extension bed section of a couch bed having a collapsible upper frame in which the lifting arm for the lifting mechanism of the upper frame forms part of a framework pivotally mounted at one end of the upper frame to form a head board for the bed section when raised and forming an anchor for the mattress on the extension bed section when collapsed.

These and other features, capabilities and advantages of the invention will appear from the subjoined detail description of one specific embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a fragmental front elevation of a couch bed made according to the present inven-. tion;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmental section on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is afragmental front elevation of the couch bed with the extension bed section moved into double bed formation and raised alongside of the main bed section;

Fig. 5 is a fragmental section on the line 55 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmental detail of a portion of the lifting mechanism in collapsed position.

The couch bed consists essentially of a main bed section I and an extension bed section 2.

The main bed section preferably has a rear wall member 3, two side wall members 4 and 5 and a box spring 6 connected to one another with the front side of the bed section between the front edges of the side wall members 4 and 5 and the box spring 6 open to form the entrance for the extension bed section 2 which may with facility be housed within said main bed section beneath the box spring 6. The rear wall member 3 and side wall members 4 and 5 preferably are not mounted on rollers but on plain supporting members 1 preferably to cooperate with the floor or other supporting surface to resist movement when the extension bed section 2 is moved into and out of the main bed section I. On the box spring 6 of the main bed section I, there is supported the mattress 8 and in single bed formation on the rear end of the mattress 8, there may be mounted on end the pillows 9, l0 and H.

The extension bed section 2 is preferably composed of a lower frame l2 and an upper frame I3. The lower frame l2 consists essentially of two '40 side bars M and I5 composed of angle iron with their horizontal webs extending inwardly from the lower ends of their vertical webs and two end bars l6 and I! with their horizontal webs extending outwardly from the lower ends of their 5 vertical webs.

The upper frame l3 consists essentially of two side bars l8 and ill with their horizontal webs extending inwardly from the lower ends of their vertical webs and two end bars 20 and 2| with their horizontal webs extending inwardly from the upper ends of their vertical webs.

The spring elements 22 and 23 forming the fiat spring of the upper frame between the horizontally extending webs of the side bars l8 and I 9 and end bars 20 and 2| are preferably connected to such horizontally extending webs as shown in Fig. 2. In collapsed or descended position of the upper frame I3, the horizontally extending webs of the end bars 26 and 2| may be disposed above the edges of the vertically extending webs of the end bars I6 and ll of the lower frame I2 and the vertically extending webs of the end bars 20 and 2| extend down outside of the vertically extending webs of the end bars I6 and I! as shown more clearly in Fig. 6.

The end bars I6 and I! are each preferably connected to one of the end bars 26 and 2| by a pair of collapsible flat links consisting essentially of a long link 24 and a short link 25 for the end bars I6 and 26 and of the long link 26 a'nd short link 21 for the end bars I! and 2|. One end of the long link 24 is pivotally connected to the outside of the vertically extending web of the end bar I6 and the other end of such link 24 disposed to the inside of the vertically extending Web of the end bar 20, provided with a pin 28 slidably mounted in the slot 29 of the vertically extending web of the bar 20, and the link 25 is preferably pivoted to the outer face of the intermediate portion of the link 24 at one end and to the inner face of the vertically extending web of the end bar 26 at its other end. The long link 26 is similarly connected to the end bars I? and 2| and the short link 21 to the long link 26 and end bar 2|. The long links 24 and 26 are preferably parallel to one another and the short links 25 and 2Ialso parallel to one another.

The side bars I4 and I5 are each preferably connected to one of the side bars I8 and I9 by a set of collapsible flat links consisting of the links 30, 3| and 32 for the side bars I4 and I8 and of the links 33, 34 and 35 for the side bars I5 and I9. The links 30 and 32 are preferably parallel to one another and pivotally connected at their lower ends to the outer face of the vertically extending web of the side bar I4 and extend to the outer face of the vertically extending web of the side bar I8 and are there provided with pins 36 and 31 respectively slidably mounted in the longitudinally extending slots I40 and MI formed in the vertically extending web of the side bar I8.

The link 3| is preferably pivotally connected to the intermediate outer face of the link 36 at its lower end and pivotally connected to the outer face of the vertically extending web of the side bar I8 at its upper end.

The links 33 and 35, see particularly Fig. 4, are preferably parallel to one another and operatively connected to the side bars I5 and I9 similar to the manner in which the links 30 and 32 are connected to the side bars I4 and I8. The

lower ends ofthe links 33 and 35 are pivotally connected to the outer face of the vertically extending web of the side bar I5 and the upper ends of such links extend to the outer face of the vertically extending web of the side bar I9 and .are there provided with the pins 38 and 39 slidably mounted in the longitudinally extending slots 46 and 4| formed in the vertically extending webof the side bar I9. The link 34 is pivotally connected to the outer intermediate face of the link 33 at its lower end and at its upper end to the outer face of the vertically extending web o f the side barI9.

The links 36 and'33 are preferably parallel to one another, so are the links 3| and 34, also the links 32 and 35, also the links 24 and 26 and also the links 25 and 21 all in the interest of the side bars I8 and I9 respectively at a distance from the ends of the side bars I8 and. I9 substantially equal to the length of a short arm 46, 41. The long arm portions 44 and 45 are preferably connected to one another by two cross rods 48 and 49 which cooperate with the arm portions 44 and 45 in forming a head board for the extension bed section or a support for a pillow or the like in open bed formation or as an anchor for engaging the upper face of the mattress 59 supported on the fiat spring of the upper frame I3 in collapsed or lowered position.

The pins 3'! and 39 on the outside of the links 32 and 35 are pivotally connected to the lower ends of the links 5| and 52 respectively. The upper ends of the links 5| and 52 are pivotally connected with the outer faces of the bent levers 42 and 43 respectively at the junctures between their long and short arm portions. The pins 3! and 39 are further pivotally connected to the ends of the links 53 and 54' respectively extending along the inner faces of the vertically extending Web portions of the side bars I8 and I9. The other ends of the links 53 and 54 are pivotally connected to the pins 36 and 38 respectively. The'links 53 and 54 are preferably parallel as shown.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the actuation of the long arm portions 44 and 45 toward the upper face of the mattress 56 will cause the upper frame I3 to descend into the position shown in Figs. '1, 2, 3 and 6 and that the actuation of such arm portions 44 and 45 away from theupper face of the mattress 56 into erect position will cause the upper frame I3 to rise into position shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

To facilitate actuation of the upper frame I3 into raised position and furthermore to anchor the same in its uppermost position, the springs 54 and 55 are provided, the spring 54 being connected at one end to the pin 56 extending inwardly from the intermediate portion of the.

link 32 and at its other end to the upper end of the extension 51 secured to and extending upwardly from the inner face of the vertically extending web of the end bar I! and the spring 55 being connected at one end to the pin 58 extending inwardly from the intermediate portion of the link 35 and at its other end to the upper end of the extension 59 also secured to and extending upwardly from the inner face of the vertically extending web of the end bar H.

In the interest of simplifying the construction, the projections 5'! and 59 are formed as the upward extensions of the roller brackets 69 and 6| respectively of the casters 62 and 63 respectively. The side bar I6 of the lower frame I2 is also provided with casters, to wit the casters 64 and 65 journaled in the brackets 66 and 6'! respectively connected to the inner face of the upwardly extending web of the side bar I6.

To form limiting stops for the bent levers 42 and 43 in their erect positon, the ends of the end bar 2| preferably extend beyo'ndthe side bars I8 and I9 to form an abutment for the '75 lower faces of the short arm portions 46 and 47 as shown in Fig. 4.

To form limiting stops for the extension bed section 2 when normally moved into double bed formation, the end bars l6 and I! are provided with plates 68 and 69 having the downwardly extending lips H3 and II respectively to engage the inwardly extending projections 12 and 13 formed on the lower ends of the front edges of the side wall members 4 and 5.

To form a neat closure for the opening between the front edges of the side wall members 4 and 5 and box spring 6 when the extension bed section 2 is disposed within the chamber formed beneath the box spring 6 of the main bed section I, the closure board 14 is provided secured to the front faces of the upwardly extending arms 15 of the supporting brackets 16.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made to the details of construction without departing from the general spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a bed, the combination with a lower rectangular frame, of an upper rectangular frame, bed spring elements associated with said upper frame to constitute a flat bed spring, three pairs of fiat links connecting all four sides of said upper frame to said lower frame, the one of said pairs of links connecting the ends of said upper frame to said lower frame having vertically extending parallel faces, being parallel in extent and positioned to move in parallel relation to one another and the other two of said pairs of links connecting the sides of said upper frame to said lower frame having vertically extending parallel faces, being parallel in extent and positioned to move in parallel relation to one another, each of said links being pivotally connected to the lower frame and slot and pin connected to the upper frame, and a lifting control device comprising two parallel levers pivotally connected at their lower ends to said upper frame, cross rods connecting the upper portions of said levers to one another, secondary links connecting the intermediate portions of said levers to the upper ends of one of said pairs of flat links which is connected to the sides of said upper and lower frames to raise or lower said upper frame in a vertical direction insured by the parallel movement of said links, said cross rods serving as a handle to the user and as a pillow support for the bed when said upper frame has been raised.

2. The combination with a lower frame, of an upper frame, two pairs of parallel moving lifting links, each link of one pair pivotally connected to one side of said lower frame and slot and pin connected to one side of said upper frame and each link of said other pair pivotally connected to the other side of said lower frame and slot and pin connected to the other side of said upper frame, a control bracket having levers pivotally connected at their lower ends to said upper frame, cross rods connecting parallel arms of said levers to one another to form a handle for the user and a pillow support when in raised position, and secondary links pivotally connecting the upper ends of said lifting links to intermediate portions of said levers.

3. The combination with a lower frame, of an upper frame, two pairs of parallel moving lifting links, each link of one pair pivotally connected to one side of said lower frame and slot and pin connected to one side of said upper frame and each link of said other pair pivotally connected to the other side of said lower frame and slot and pin connected to the other side of said upper frame, a control bracket having parallel levers pivotally connected at their lower ends to said upper frame, cross rods connecting parallel arms of said levers to one another forming a handle for the user and a pillow support when in raised position, secondary links pivotally connecting the upper ends of said lifting links to intermediate portions of said levers, and guide links pivotally connecting the ends of the upper frame to the ends of the lower frame to guide said upper frame in a vertical movement when actuated by said lifting links.

4. The combination with a lower frame, of an upper frame, two pairs of parallel moving lifting links, each link of one pair pivotally connected to one side of said lower frame and slot and pin connected to one side of said upper frame and each link of said other pair pivotally connected to the other side of said lower frame and slot and pin connected to the other side of said upper frame, a control bracket pivotally connected at its lower end to said upper frame, secondary links pivotally connecting the upper ends of said lifting links to said control bracket, abutments extending up from said lower frame above the pivotal axis of said lifting links, and springs connecting the upper ends of said abutments to certain of said lifting links to facilitate actuation of the same into raised position.

5. The combination with a lower frame, of an upper frame, two pairs of lifting links, each link of one pair pivotally connected to one side of said lower frame and slot and pin connected to one side of said upper frame, each link of the other pair pivotally connected to the other side of said lower frame and slot and pin connected to the other side of said upper frame, a pair of short links pivotally connected to said upper frame and each of said short links pivotally connected to one link of one of said pairs of lifting links, a pair of parallel levers pivotally connected at one of their ends to said upper frame, connecting links pivotally connecting the upper ends of said lifting links to intermediate portions of said parallel levers, and cross rods connecting parallel arms of said levers to one another to form a handle when of one pair pivotally connected to one side of said lower frame and slot and pin connected to one side of said upper frame, each link of the other pair pivotally connected to the other side of said lower frame and slot and pin connected to the other side of said upper frame, a pair of short links pivotally connected to said upper frame and each of said short links pivotally connected to one link of one of said pairs of lifting links, a pair of parallel bent levers pivotally connected at one of their ends to said upper frame, connecting links pivotally connecting the upper ends of said lifting links to the bent portions of said bent levers, and cross rods connecting parallel arms of said levers to one another to form a handle when raising or lowering said upper frame, and to form a pillow support when raised.

7. The combination with a lower frame, of an upper frame, two pairs of lifting links, each link of one pair pivotally connected to one side of said lower frame and slot and pin connected to one side of said upper frame, each link of the other pair pivotally connected to the other side of said lower frame and slot and pin connected to the other side of said upper frame, a pair of short links pivotally connected to said upper frame and each of said short links pivotally connected to one link of one of said pairs of lifting links, a pair of parallel bent levers pivotally connected at one of their ends to said upper frame, connecting links pivotally connecting the upper ends of said lifting links to the bent portions of said bent levers, cross rods connecting parallel arms of said levers to one another to form a lever when raising or lowering said upper frame and to form a pillow support when raised and guide links operatively connecting the ends of said upper frame to the ends of said lower frame to guide said upper frame in a vertical direction when actuated by said lifting links.

8. The combination with a lower frame, of an upper frame, two pairs of lifting links, each link of one pair pivctally connected to one side of said lower frame and slot and pin connected to one side of said upper frame, each link of the other pair pivotally connected to the other side of said lower frame and slot and pin connected to the other side of said upper frame, a pair of short links pivotally connected to said upper frame and each of said short links pivotally connected to one link of one of said pairs of lifting links, a pair of parallel bent levers pivotally connected at one of their ends to said upper frame, connecting links pivotally connecting the upper ends of said lifting links to the bent portions of said bent levers, cross rods connecting parallel arms of said levers to one another to form a lever when raising or lowering said upper frame and to form a pillow support when raised, abutments extending from said lower frame up above the pivotal axis of said lifting links, and springs connecting said lifting links tothe upper ends of said abutments to facilitate actuation of said lifting links during frame lifting and frame lowering movement.

9. The combination with a rigid rectangular lower frame, of a rigid rectangular upper frame, three pairs of main parallel links pivotally connected to the lower frame, there being three pairs of horizontally extending slots in said upper frame, a pin secured to the upper end of each of said links and each slidably mounted in one of said slots, one of said pairs of links being movable in planes that are perpendicular to the planes of movement of said other two pairs of links and-connecting the ends of said frames, one link of each of said other two pairs of links connecting one pair of sides of said frames, a short link movably connecting the intermediate portion of each of the main links constituting said first mentioned pair of links and one main link of each of said other two pairs of main links with said upper frame, and a control bracket comprising a pair of parallel levers, each lever pivotally connected at its lower end to one side of r said upper frame removed from the adjacent end of said upper frame, a secondary link movably connecting the intermediate portion of each lever to the upper end of the adjacent main link connected to an adjacent side of the main frame, and cross pieces connecting the portions of said aoeaess levers beyond said secondary links to form a handle when operating said control bracket, and a pillow support for the upper frame when raised.

10. The combination with a rigid rectangular lower frame, of a rigid rectangular upper frame,

three pairs of main parallel links pivotally connected to the lower frame, there being three pairs of horizontally extending slots in said upper frame, a pin secured to the upper end of each of said links and each slidably mounted in one of said slots, one of said pairs of links being movable in planes that are perpendicular to the planes of movement of said other two pairs of links and connecting the ends of said frames, one

link of each of said other two pairs of links connecting one pair of sides of said frames, a short link movably connecting the intermediate portion of each of the main links constituting said first mentioned pair of links and one main link of each of said other two pairs of main links with said upper frame, a flat bed spring connected to and. extending across said upper frame, a removable mattress on said fiat spring, and a control bracket comprising a pair of parallel levers, each lever pivotally connected-at its lower end to one side of said upper frame removed from the adjacent end of said upper frame, a secondary link movably connecting the intermediate portion of each lever to the upper end of the adjacent main link connected to an adjacent side of the frame, and cross pieces connecting the portions of said levers beyond said secondary links to form a handle when operating said control bracket, a pillow support for the upper frame when raised, and an anchor for said mattress when said bracket is lowered.

11. The combination with a lower frame, of an upper frame having a mattress supported thereon, lifting links connecting said upper frame to said lower frame and including two parallel links,

each of said parallel links being slot and pin connected to one side of said upper frame in an area spaced from the end of said upper frame, and a control bracket comprising a pair of parallel bent levers, each bent lever pivotally connected at the free end of its short arm to one side of said upper frame at a distance spaced from the adjacent end of said upper frame substantially equal to the length of its short arm, and secondary links movably connecting the intermediate bent portion of each lever to the upper end of one of said parallel links, and crosspieces connecting said longarms to form a handle when operating said control bracket and a pillow support for the upper frame when raised, the angle of said bent levers relative to said secondary links and their connections enabling the portion beyond said bent portions of said levers to extend substantially parallel to, and spaced from, said upmerit.

JOSEPH MARTIN. 

